Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig both scored 2 goals and added assists as Galaxy beat the Rapids 5-0 in their playoff opener

Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig each scored two goals and an assist to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 5-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the opening game of a best-of-three first-round series on Saturday night.

The second-seeded Galaxy took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute and held it until halftime with a goal from Joveljic. Puig scored his first postseason assist on Joveljic’s second career postseason goal. Joveljic scored one goal in two appearances and eight minutes of play in the 2022 playoffs. It was Puig’s first assist in three postseason appearances – all starts.

John Nelson received a pass from fellow defender Miki Yamane and scored the 2-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Puig followed with a goal two minutes later, and LA prevailed from there. Nelson scored his first postseason goal in his first appearance for the Galaxy. Nelson made two starts for FC Dallas in 2020. Yamane, a rookie, had six assists in the regular season. Joveljic received his first playoff assist with a shot on goal from Puig.

Joveljic completed his brace with an unassisted goal in the 75th minute. Puig followed with a goal in the 87th minute and an assist from freshman Gabriel Pec to complete the rout.

John McCarthy finished the game without a save, but conceded a goal in his first postseason start in goal for the Galaxy. McCarthy’s only other playoff appearance was a start for Inter Miami in 2020.

Zack Steffen stopped six shots for the seventh-seeded Rapids in his ninth postseason start. The previous eight came in 2017-18 with the Columbus Crew.

Colorado played without Djordje Mihailovic, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.

The series continues on Friday in Colorado.